Pittsburg dispatch. [volume], November 13, 1892, Page 20, Image 20

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SYNOPSIS OF RKVIOD5 CHAPTER?.
Lord Gaston Vonior l a handsom. but unscrupulous member or society. He has
tired f his youns and beautiful wiie. To rid hltnielf o Her be lias contrivo I to throw
Into her company Lord Wy vis. a man of his own unscrupulous set. Lady Vomer discovers
his object and determines to avoid public scandal at any cost. At a reception Riven by
Lady Barin- Lady Verner meets Lord Wyvis and intimates her husband s determination.
He promise" to co'i way. Verner watches the couple at their tete-.i-tete and sees Lord
Wyvis kiss Lady Vernor's liand. He sets to quarreling with her, though he knows the
hour of departure has long since parsed, and he has managed so the company knew or her
raeettinc with Lord Wyvis. Lad v B irins's mind is poisoned against Lady Verner and she
treats her very coolly. On the ay home Lord Verner stops at his club, and Lady Verner,
instead or coin- home. coe9 to Ludy Carysiort's home and tells her of her trouble, disclos
ing that Lord Veiner has sent a diamond tiara to a woman whose namo she does not know.
She believes that it is iu order to marry this woman that Loid Verner wishes to get rid
of her.
CHAPTEIt X
Is it worth a tear, is it worth an hour.
To think of things that are well out-worn?
A little space or time, ore time expires,
A little day. a little wa o breath.
"But how, darling? How can I help
-vou?" says Lady Carysfort distractedly. It
Is terrible to her to see this girl, so dear to
her, in sucn sad straits. 'Ton mean to
leave him, Khoda?"
"Yes, yes. And at once. I shall not re
turn to his house- again. It would kill me
to see him. Oh!" iih a long, long shud
der "I would rather starve in a garret than
have to live with him again."
"But what is to be done?" says Lady
Carysfort helplesly, throwing wide her
hands.
At this moment the door is opened, and
a charming head is to be seen. It is
Breuda's.
"Not in bed, Brenda?" says Lady Carys
fort. with n little frown.
"Xo. Forgive me, auntie. I knew
.. was in trouble, and how could I go
oed? I thought" she steals up to Rhoda
and slips her hand into hers "I thought
that perhaps I could help her."
'Oh, no," says Lady Carysfort, impatient
ly. She waves" tne girl to the door, but
lUioda catches Brendaand holds her.
"Let her stay," savs she. "After all it
must be known and I should like my own
people to have a true version of it. The
lact is, Brends, that I cannot live any
longer with Sir Gaston. He" flushing ''has
made it imposibie, and we are now think
ing, auntie and I, of how I am to get away
from him so eflectually that he will not be
able to find me."
"Yes! An excellent move,1' rays Miss
Bow-en, who detests Sir Gaston. "Well, I
f!all think, too."
'Perhaps, Rhoda after all it would be
ter for you to sue lor a divorce," says
"v Carvsfort, thouch with hesitation,
shall never do that," says Rhoda de
ly. Like most women she objects to
oitv. There is only one thing that
induces a woman to sue tor a divorce,
. that is her love forano her man. Now
noda is heart-whole. "That is out of the
question."
"Then why not leave him openly. It can
be done now" it seems. That last case vou
remember it has decided that a woman
peed not live with her husband unless she
wishes."
"I could do that but I could not endure
the comments of my friends. And besides,
he would torment me in many ways and
make my life a burden to me. No. I want
to disappear altogether."
"To go abroad?"
"Ye es No; I don't much care where I
am, so that he cannot fiud me. The worst
ol it is," says she with a rueful smile, "that
I have not much money."
"Darling child! Don't let that trouble
you. You know that I "
"I know that you would give me your
last penny," says Lady Verner smiling, yet
w ith a rush of tears to her eyes. "But I
don't leel inclined to accept it. . No. I
want to work. I want to be so busy that I
shall never have to think."
"You to work, Khoda?" cries Brenda,
who is herself a confirmed idler."
"Yes. Hard, actual work. Work that
iKbe worthy of payment. That is the
onlv j-Nl work, and I want to go in for itl
I I had thought of getting an appointment
as a schoolmistress in some village, where
quite little childien would he my pupils."
She sighs softly. It had been a sorrow to
her that no little'tiny tender nestling thing
had been given to her by heaven. It would
have filled the void in her empty heart.
But heaven had denied her that best gilt.
"Ah! It you had had a little one 01 your
own," says Lady Carvsfort mournfully, who
is indeed in creat grief at this moment.
'If I had!" The beautiful young lace
raddens. "Well, I have cease'd to regret
that auntie. I think now It is better that
I should be as as lonely as I am!-'
"Oh, Khoda!" cries Lady Carysfort,
bursting into tears, "that you you should
have to talk like that. My pretty girl!"
"No, now, don't cry," says Khoda, who
has grown very white again. She lays her
lovely arms rouiid Lady Carysfort's neck,
and londles and kisses ber into equanimity
once more. Brenda, looking on, and being
a little person of considerable strength of
mind, tells hersell that Lady Carysfort
should be the consoler on this occasion and
Rhoda the sufierer; instead of its being
exactlv vice versa.
"But what are you thinking of Rhoda?"
cries she, speaking briskly, as a corrective
to Lady Carvsfort's emotion. "To be a
'school'roarui,"' and to little, nasty, stupid,
dirty children? Oh. no; it would not do at
all! There must be something better."
"But what is there?" asks Lady Carys
fort, in a despairing tone.
"Well. You should know, auntie."
"I should?"
"Yes, vou. I don't know," anxiously,
"if it would sound horrid to Khoda; but I'm
sure I should like it better than slapping
and scolding a lot of dirty, little children."
"I shouldn't slap luem," says Khoda with
a smile.
jo. You would give them toffee un
limited, until their stomachs ached, and
then the clergvman ol the parish would
dismiss vou. But this other thing"
"What is it?" asks Lady Carjsiort.
"Why, auntie, you should remember
-hat it is. better than L It came in this
rning." ,
t sounds like a fresh supply of sonie
:," says Ladv Veruer, whose naturally
'spirits rise now and' again to the sur
"Oysters lor choice. But you can't
; ovsters in summer time, even with the
intentions. Go on, Brenda, what
e iu this morning? You should pene
e the gloom."
Why that letter from Lady Barker,
ys Brenda, staring at her aunt, as if to
compel her to remember.
"Ah! true!" crirs the latter, wakening
into sudden remembrance. "Hut a house
keeper! Khoda to be a housekeeper!
"I would raiher be a housekeeper than a
teacher ol A B C," m-s Brenda. "And,
besides, this won id be such a hyper-cxcel-lent
sort of housekeeping."
"You sav very foolish things at times,
Brenda," says Lady Carysf.rt, almost an
gnly. "Your cousin would not dream of
such a thing as you speft' !.'
"On the contrary," er "ihoda, who has
been listening eagerly iouU dream
long and earnestly o' 'anpe o es
cape from my present life. A housekeeper"
you said? Whv, auntie, that would suit
me admirably. Don't you recollect how you
used to calf me a born manager long ago,
belore before I married?" Once again her
lace grows Fad, sniileless. "Tell me about
it," says she, looking at Brenda.
"Auntie will tell you. Auntie, you have
the letter in your desk over there. The one
from Ladv Barker!"
"Lady Barker! She is an old lady, is she
not?" says Khoda. "A little cranky, too.
I met her once. Does she want a house
keeper?" and with a sigh. "I'm afraid she
would remember me, and I'm certain she
would not agree with me."
Brenda civet way to mirth.
"She'd disagree with you even if you had
the digestion of an ostrich. But it is not
Lady Barker who wants a housekeeper. It
is a friend of hers. Probably he is impossi
ble too, but he can scarcely be as impossi
ble, because," ingenuously, "he is a man!"
"A man!" says Khoda.
"An old man, I suppose," says Lady
Carysfort "At all events La ly Barker
s lid nothing about his aze, and I'm sure
she would have done so had he been young,
because she " Lady Carysfort pauses,
being charitable. Brenda finishes the sen
tence, bein anything but charitable.
"Because she' detests youth," says she,
promptly. "She bates everything that has
nothing "to do with herself, and certainly
youth has not much to do with her. Oh,
yes. this Mr. Drayton that is the nape of
the man who wants a housekeeper is un
doubtedly a modern Methusaieh."
"A housekeeper! What should T have
to do?" says Rhoda. She speaks slowly;
she is evidently thinking.
"To see alter the servants, and, in a
bachelor's establishment, see that the flow
ers and silver were all right."
"He is a bachelor?"
"Yes. An aucient one. At least, that is
what I thiuk," said Brenda. "I'm sure,
Khoda, ny bachelor, however old, would
be preferable to the dirty school children."
"There is one thing preierable to both,"
says Lady Carysfort. "Go abroad, Rhoda.
Take a trip to the Holy Land, or Thibet, or
some iar away place like that. I can give
you the money, and after a year or so who
can tell what may happen?"
"No. I shall not do that," says Lady
Verner. "Darling auntie, don't be augry
or nflended with me. I could not do it. I
should be fretting all the time, thinking
what a burden I was to you. No. This
plan that Brenda has proposed to me seems
desirable. A housekeeper to an old man.
I think I could manage that"
"01 course, he cau't be toothless," says
Brenda. "Because he says he wants to
entertain some men for the autumn shoot
ing. August is the month. From August
round to next spring he would want you.
And it isn't so far away either. He lives
in Yorkshire. We could go to see you at
anv moment, or you could run over to see
us."
"It sounds tempting," says Khoda with a
smile: "Really, auntie, I think I had better
decide upon it. But references. One
wants references with servants." She looks
at Brenda, and both, as if compelled to it,
break into nervous irrepressible laughter."
"A nice servant you will makel" cries.
Brenda; she laughs even more excitedly as
she says this, and then all suddenly covers
her lace with her hand, aud begins to sob
bitterly.
"Oh! Rhoda, don't go, don't!" cries she,
passionately.
"What doyoumean?" says Rhoda.gently,
yet with firmness. "What a silly child
you are! A servant is a happy creature
nowadays compared with a wife a wife
such as I ami Why, I go lrom misery to
calm. No more! I desire no more. To be
at rest; that means everything, and I thiuk
I could be so far a good housekeeper as to
deserve my wages. It I fail I can but come
back to you."
"Come back? But would you?"
"I will promise you so much. I shall
come back it my duties prove too much tor
me. Auntie, you know this man's address.
Sit down and write to him. Write to him
now, this moment. You trill be sufficient
reference; and I must go out of town out
ol his way in a day or two at latest."
She would have drawn Lady Carysfort
toward the davonport, but the fa tter'holds
back.
"A word, Rhoda," says Lady "Carysfort,
who is very pale aud distressed" "You are
determined on taking this step?"
"I am so lar determined," says Khoda,
with a steady glance, "that rather than go
back to Gaston again I Bbonld "
"Oh, hush, child! Hushl Don't talk
like that."
"Others talk. I shall do," says Rhoda,
compressing her.white lips. There is some
thing in her lace that frightens Lady Carys
iort. "Help me now, auntie, it you meau
to help me at alL He has.gone away lor a
week. When he comes back he shall find
me gone. Gone iorerer!"
"Auntie will help you," says Brenda.
"We shall all help you. Auntie," eagerly,
"where is Lady Barker's letter?"
"Here! It is here, dear," savs Lady
Carysfort in. a .low tone. She goes to a
davonport and opens it. "I give in, Khoda!
It shall be as you wish. But this man, Mr.
Drayton, he wants a housekeeper the day
alter to-morrow; you should go dowu to
him in the morning if you still insist on
it."
"That will suit me," says Khoda. "To
morrow I shall go. 01 course, it I do not
suit him I can come back to you again."
"Oh! I hope you will come back," says
Lady Carysfort, tearfully.
"I hope I shall not," says Khoda, laying
ber arm round her neck and kissing her.
"But what can this man want a house
keeper lor, so early in this year? It be
wants one to keep his house in order during
the shooting season, why not wait until
August to get one?"
"August is not so far distant, and it ap
pears he is not a society man. He has been
living in the East lor'years. He is au ex
plorer." "But at his agel"
"They go on you see -like that, until eyes
and senses lail them. Now, in his old age
he is settling down in his native place. At
least that is what I hare been led to sup
pose." "Well, it is arranged!" says Lady Ver
ner, with a quick breath that is hardly a
sfcti and yet resemb.es it, "I am glad to
know that he is andd man. Tnere is noth
ing more to thiuk about.
"fjfood gracious;" says Miss Bow en,
"why, t is only just b'egun. Nothing to
think about! Wuy your clothes, Bhoda?
THE
Do you suppose you can go down to Kings
lands that's the name of hia place and
pose as a competent housekeeper in white
Telvet and diamonds?"
Lady Verner stares at her.
"Clothes?" says she.
"Yes. It is a terribly material thought
no doubt, and rather destroys the romance
of the thing, but I suppose you will haye to
get housekeeper's irocks (whatever they
mav be like), if you mean to carry out this
thing. You do mean to carry it out?"
She leans forward, unconsciously, and looks
keenly at Khoda. There is undue anxiety
iu her gaze. It would be plain to any ob
server that she is desirous of Rhoda s ac
ceptance of this chance offered her. This
chance that will take her out of Loqdon,
and out of the way generally of all her
acquaintances.
"I mean it." says Khoda, thoughtfully.
She is evidently thinking ol some thing else.
Of those clothes.
"Oh, well, I promise you it shall not he
sky blue," says Lady Verner, still laughing
though her eyes are filled with saddest
teats tears born of the wreckage of all her
young life. "But not drab either, I thintc.
Why not black, auntie?"
"Black plain, severe. The very thing, "
cries Brenda. "And in black you always
look your loveliest"
"Ah! That is the last thing to be consid
ered. In black, however, I shall feel well
dressed, whatever the shapes and forms of
the garments may be. To-morrow,i then,
we must set torth to find me'raiment fitting
for my new vocation." She is laughing
naturally now. "To-morrow,"
"It sounds dreadfully near," says Brenda,
with a quaver in her voice.
"Not dreadfully. Delightfully!" says her
cousin. She walks deliberately to one of
the long mirrors, and gazes at her charming
MAT THEM T6AT OWS HER
figure in a deliberate sort of way. "Velvet
and diamonds to-night; sackcloth and ashes
to-morrow! A thorough change, at all
events."
"It is all too ridiculous," says Lady
Carvsfort, with a frown that fades into a
tear. "But it is onlr lor a moment a
mere scene in a short-lived drama. You will
give it up."
"Ob, no! I shall not give It up," still
gazing at herself in the mirror. "How
prettv I am." she says suddenly. "Prettier
than Lady Daleworth, I think," naming a
societv beauty.
"How can you make such a comparison?"
says Lady Carysfort.
"Haven't you heard that her portraits are
being withdrawn lrom the windows?" says
Brenda.
"Not for mine to take their place," says
Lady Verner decidedly. "I am glnd now
that I never allowed anything of that sort
My chances of a situation as housekeeper or
schoolmistress would have been so greatly
diminished it I had done so. I should have
been so universally known. And so you
think mo prettier" than Lady Daleworth?
So prettv, and all for naught I So pretty,
and yet I could not keep even my own hus
band" at my 6ide. I," slowly, giving a last,
lingering, annoyed glance at herself in the
mirror, "must be a most detestable
woman."
She moves away.
"It is he who is detestable 1" says Lady
Carvsfort, fondly and indignantly.
"Oh, he!" says Brenda.
She is looking with admiration at Rhoda,
and ns she looks an idea strikes upon her
fertile brain.
"Whatever you do, Rhoda," says she,
"don't leave your diamonds behind you."
"Behind me?"
"Yes. Take them with you to to Kings
land.." "What should I do with them there? A
servant with diamonds! It would be a
burlesque in petto."
"For all that, take them! They are valu
able. They were your poor mother's," says
Lady Carysfort. "They are your own.
Brenda is quite right. Why should you
leave them behind you?"
"For Gnstoa to sell and squander. True!
I shall not do that I shall take them,"
says Lady Verner, with a frown.
CHAPTER XL
Give mo again my hollow tree,
A crust 01 bread nnd liberty.
It is a glorious day! Hurrying through
the country in the down train, Khoda's eyes
(still sad and tear-smitten because of that
late sorrowful parting with Lady Carysfort)
no? dry themselves and widen into an
eager appreciation of the exquisite glimpses
ol Nature at her best now afforded her.
Swift as the train flies northward it can
not altogether hide lrom her the loveliness
of field and lawn and branching trees.
Here there flashes to the eyes, for all too
short a time, the pale green foaming of a
tiny cataract that dashes tumultuously over
bank and rock and all impediments into the
cool, still basin far below.
And now her eye catches sight of one of
England's Many homesteads a warm, cozy
cottage, nestling among its stacks and bee
hives, and set about with beeuh trees in lull
foliage and behind them many firs, tall and
stately, some dark of hue, "aud some a glad
light greeu."
The yellow cornfields, ripening for the
coming harvest, make a brave color among
nil the other tints that Mother Earta has
brought to fullest life; an.! sweetly smelling
cocks or hay, nnd fragrant breaths of sweet
briar, and some late hone; suckle delight
the air, and come to her through the win
dows of the carriage; while as for the sing
ing of the birds, could one have thought so
many little leathered minstrels were alive
in all the world?
The birdett sang, it is no nay,
TIih sperhawk and the popinjay,
That loy it was to hear;
Tlio throstle cock made eke his lay,
The woode dove upon the spiny,
She sans lull loud and clear.
A rest a sense of great peace fails on
Khoda. It is almost too good a thing to
find herself here, alone in this comfortable
com i artment. firing fast from all her cares.
Up to this it had seemed to be onlv that she
was flying toward fresh troubles", but the
lovely day, the balmy winds, the sights and
sounds of nature bare all acted with a
gracious beneficence upon her tired heart
and soul.
Still leaning forward, to catch each ps
ing breath of sir, sht tells herself that now
PITrSBTTBQ' PISP4TOH, r
she knows that her whole life she hat pined
for the country has preferred its silent
ecstasies to all the glittering glories of: the
town and she has seen so little of the
country sin oe her marriage.
Well, if he accepts her as his house
keeper she will be able to 'please him, she
thinks. Of course it might be imagined (and
in many cases with reason) that the fact of
being born in the purple, as it were, and
the associations connected therewith, would
necessarily destroy one's qualifications lor
any menial services. Servitude naturally
was an unknown quantity in her family,
government rather than servitude being the
rule with her people; and yet she tells her
self that she feels she could be an excellent
housekeeper if only she were given a trial.
But sometimes old men are hard to please.
Old men! A sudden thought strikes her.
Old men live on gruel and beef teal Well,
she can make beef tea if she can't make
gruel. When staying at the Palnleys last
year, during Ascot, little Dicky Painley
was very 111, and she took a fancy to make
something for him, dear little lad, and the
"something" tr.pk the form of beet tea, and
everyone said it was better than oook's, ex
cept Dicky; but Dicky was delirious, poor
little darling!
And of cotfrse beef tea isn't all; it's no't
everything! And besides this, old Mr.
Dravton is an explorer. An explorer
would probably make his own beef tea.
This is a depressing thought, but it fails
to conquer ber. There are other things
that can please, and given brains apd cour
age, bat is it a woman dare not do? And
the woman who has bad to satisfy herself as
to the duties required of her own servants
is surely in the belt position of all to know
what duties are required.
In such little ways she cheers herself, and
yet as she leaves the train and enters the fly
Ml FOBGIVEK, SAID PETER.
that is to take her to Kingslands her heart
sia'ts within her.
Strangely enough, from first to last of this
eventful journey of hers, her thoughts have
not once traveled to her husband. She has
ut him behind ber, aa it jwere, and though
e is still behind (on berTrack, perhaps
all through her flight) sbethrows him not
so much as one passing memqry. Truly
this must mean something much all!
What he will do on discovery concerus her
so little that her mind retuses to trouble it
self about it Poorwoman! What had she
not suflered at his hsnds before she, with
her sweet spirit, could thus cast him so en
tirely from her.
On travels thelly over the dusty roads.
The sun is at its'best. Even lying back in
the fly, shrinking from the burning suu
beams, their heat reaches her, aud the
journey has been long and tedious and Lady
Carysfort's sandwiches bare never once
been touched. Her glad, happy mood dies,
nnd again despair seizes on her.
Of course, Mr. Drayton will not engage
her I She must have been mad to dream of
it I What old man would care for a house
keeper under 60? He will not trust her;
that fatal gift, youth, still presses heavily
on her, and will lor many years, and so
Oh, that the were old quite old, and less
less well, if she could only be a little
lesj good lookiug, and staid, much more
staid in appearance more to the manner
born ol housekeepers, how iar greater her
chauce of gaining this engagement would
be!
All old men are crotchety. Many object
to a voung lace. Auntie had drilled all
this into her in her desire t? keep her at
home, or else send her abroad to be happy
on her (auntie's) money; but Khoda would
none "oi these things. She would be inde
pendent or nothing that is her husband's
slave 1
Here, the fly turning into a more brilliant
part ol the couutry, her spirits rise again.
A last tond hope has come to her. Old Mr.
Drayton may be halt blind. He may not
be. able to see very well. Explorers ire
quently suffer from desert blindness, that
is, presumably, sand in the ej es; and there
tore be may not notice that she is at this
side of the fifties) She is almost on the
point of hoping her desired master is suffer
ing from some new lorm ol ophthalmia,
when the fly draws up at the entrap ce gates
of Kingslands.
CHAPTER XIL
And dares' c thou then
To beard the lion in his den,
The Douglas iu his hallT
She rouses herself lrom her reverie to
look with interest at the gateway of the
place that may yet prove her City of
Keluge. The hnge granite pillars ol the
gate, surmounted by griffins rampant, look
imposing, and the deep, dark avenue beyond
is, too, all it should be. On this hot July
day, tne coolness, the duskiness ot the
drive, lalls like a pleasant touch upon her
tired spirit It is indeed delicious here.
Leaning out of the miserable fly (that
creates faint regrets for comfortable car
riages left behind) she lets her eyes dwell
on all the sweetnees round her. The over,
hanging branches of the huge limes that
guard the avenue on either side, the grove
ol rhododendrons, in full flower, over there,
the delicate dark shadows, moving amongst
the greenery all about, each and everything
has its charm for her.
What a grand old place! Those trees
must hare been mere babies many hundreds
of years ago! And the turf how soft, how
well kept and the avenue itself!
"Looks as if it were swept with tea leaves
every morn," says she to herself with an
appreciative smile,.
She breathes rspturonsly as if to inhale
as much as possible ot the perfumed air;
around her. After a moment or two a sud.' I
den turn brings her to an open space, tree
less, fnll out from which stretches a green
expanse; it gives a handsome glimpse of the
EarU beyond; and crossing this open space
etneenthe limes moves the figure of a
young man, as if to throw va touch of life
into the lovely picture.
He is decidedly a young man. Bhoda.
oq first catching sight of him, had looked
.eagerly, thinking that perhaps here on
view, as it were is well employer!
"Master" U a horrid word. She . ha bad
one master too nian'y to far! But there is
no sign ofageabqut the tall young man
.eroeslntr the field wlth'a brace of terriers at
SUNDAY. NOTBMBEB ' 18-,
his heels, and therefore he cannot be Mr.
Drayton. '
The stranger, whoever he Is, passes quit
close to her; at all events sufficiently close
for her to see that he is a tall man, well
set up, and that his hair is brown dark:
brown. It is impossible but that he wxn
have heard the sound of her chariot wheels,
but if so he has not cared to see to whom
they may belong, so that a full view of his
face is denied ber. Not that she feels much
interest in him in any way. He is not Mr.
Drayton, evidently, and everv thought of
her heart is given to that old explorer just
at present
No doubt this young man Is a friend of
his staying with him at present What a
pity. She grows nervous again, and clasps
tier" hands together and leans back in the
fly, giving herself up a prey to miserable
doubts. Auntie had iu a measure assured
her that Mr. Drayton would have no guests
until August, the 10th or 11th. of August,
and she had told herself she would have
time between this and then to study bis
household and get into the way of under
standing things and placing herself gener
ally. But if he is beginning to entertain
already, why, It will be an ordeal, and she
Is sure to make mistakes, and she will be
dismissed sent home in disgrace.
That word home! It braces her again and
strengthens her nerves. Home. Never
home again, whatever happeifs.
And now another turn in the avenne, and
she finds hersell at the hall door, and with
A heart that begins to beat wildly she gets
out of the study fly and ascends the broad
flight ot steps belore her. 4,
The door is open, and as she stands hesi
tating, her courage at the last failing her,
she has time to see the goodly dimensions
of the spacious hall beyond.
Just as she is compelling herself to raise
her hand to ring the bell an elderly man,
evidently the butler, certainly not the foot
man, comes out of a room, and seeing her
standing upon the threshold, pauses for a
second.and then comes forward with a little
old-iashjoned bow.
"Is Mr. Drayton at home?" she asks gen
tly, something in"the old servitor's keen
but kindly face giving her strength.
"No, ma'am. Out. But it you will come
in I thiuk I can find him. He is just about
the place."
Pottering round the garden! thinks
Khoda. Taking advantage of all the sun
shine 'to warm his old bones! The elderly
butler interests her. His tone is lull of
reverence. He is evidently under the im
piession (and the knowledge comes to her
with mingled feelings of comfort and fear)
that she is here as a guest of bis master'sl
What a handsome old man, with his grey
hair, and his bright dark eyes and his
courtly manner. Now, why had she never
been able to secure a butler like this? Ah!
No butler like this would have lived with
Gaston a week. "Other times, other man
ners." And, of course, this old man and
his master bad been boys together the
former had been bred off the estate. There
were no such servants to be had now tor
love or money; the last generation had de
stroyed them
A sense of honesty that is more often
born in the old blood than the new, com
pels her to set herself and her position in
clear letters before this old man.
"I wish to see Mr. Dravton on business,"
says she, in a calm, distinct tone. "I have
come here to-day to to see if he would like
to have me as his housekeeper."
01 course, she ought to have said some
thing about whether she would suit him as
a housekeeper. That word "suit" came
back to ber long alter it had ceased to be
of any use to her and she thought ot it as
a word that should have been used. Her
own servants, and as a rule she always en
gaged the cook and the uppar housemaid in
person, never tailed to mention it. Yes,
she ought to have looked up the vocabulary
wanted for her purpose belore starting on
her "great emprise."
A look ot amazement has gathered on the
old butler's .lace. It is so distinct (his
amazement) that she colors warmly.
"Master will soon be in," says he slowly.
He is looking at her keenly, but yet there
is no smallest diminution ot respect in his
glance. With a pang of fear she knows
tha'. he has seen her through. He has in
deed lived long enough to recognize a lady
under any conditions, and Rhodi wonders
anxiously, what will be the result of this
discovery on his part
But there is no result ! Peter (in the
lower regions, Mr. Mangold) never pries
upon her in any way lrom first to last dur
ing her stay at Kingslands, and from first
to la&c, too, he treats her with all the re
spect he might pay to a high and valued
guest Dear old Peter!
"Master is sure to be in to luncheon.
"Will you please to step this way, ma'am?"
She follows him as he leads her to a small
silting room on the left side of the hail; a
pretty room with a bay window, and pret
tily lurnisbed, too, but with the air of iso
lation that lies on most rooms (if the
smoking room and the "den" be excepted)
in most bachelor establishments. It takes
a woman to make a place cosy. It must be
a really bad old bachelor who would deny
this.
Peter draws out a chair, a huge armchair,
aud bowing her into it, moves toward tne
door. On the threshold, however, he
pauses, hems and haws a bit, examines the
lock ot the door, presumably to see if it
requires oiling, aud finally springs a last
question on Khoda.
'Housekeeper did you say, ma'am?"
"Yes," says Rhoda, despair seizing hold
of her. Why should he be so surprised,
unless indeed a housekeeper has already
been engaged? With her tongue cleaving
to the rootof her mouth she asks him a
question in turn.
"Has Mr. Drayton got a housekeeper
yet?"
"Oh, no, ma'am; certainly not I was
only thinking that- " He breaks ofFeon-
fusedly. "Mav I bring you a glass of
sherry, ma'am?"
"No, thauk you!" says Rhoda, the smile
with which she adorns "the retusal so brilli
ant, because ot the relief he has giveu her,
that the old man retires dazzled,
"A housekeeDer she! May them that
own her be forgiven," says ho to himself,
piously, as be closes the door behind him.
His face is a study as he marches off to his
own quarters.
"He is a picture," says Khoda, leaning
back in the luxurious chair that is au abso
lute comfort after the racketting endured in
the old fly, "one ol the old school. Oh, if
his master will prove even halt as nice., Ah!
be has seen through me. I lelt that I
knew it That class is never to
be hoodwinked. They are the most
conservative of all. They cling to
old blood and old ways and would know you
to be a person ot birth it thev found you in
the East End slums." She starts suddenly,
as one does when a grief or a fear forgotten
lor a blessed minute or two comes back to
one again with a sharp pang. "Oh, what
will Mr. Drlyton be like? How much
lousier am I to endure suspense? That
good old wan will send lor him I think I
hope."
In spite of a sense of fatigue heavy on
her, she leaves the armchair aud begins to
pace impatiently up and down the room.
"To know my" late! To know it now
now at once! Where can Mr. Dsayton be?
Oh, not far, surely. Old age travels but by
very slow degrees, and but an explorer.
Good heavens! An explorer would think
nothing ol a day's march. He is sure to be
a hale old man, and choleric, and
"It is now 1:30. There is a return train at
lour. If he is not In before that"
To Ot continued next Sunday.
Copyright, 1332. by the author.
A JEWEL SONG.
Hey! for turquoise sky and sea,
tineiuld grass and leafy tree
Topaz sunlight, onyx shade
U o! for Upriug, the Joj ous maid.
Heyt ror sapphiro ocean blue.
Opal sky aud moonstone dew,
Atrute night and amber day
Ho! loi Summer britrht and gay.
Hej I for garnet bough and vine,
Amethyst grape and ruby wine,
Golden setting for them all
Ho! tor brilliant, sad-heart Fall,
Heyt for silvor glistening frost,
r rein of snow past any co-it,
DiAinona ice and oryst.il air
Ho! for Winter cold and fair,
Jull: M. L'ppman, in Oetobsr St. JS'icholat.
189a-
SILYER AT., BRUSSELS.
r
Br. Soetbeer's Proposition of a Eatio
.of 20 to 1 the Great Issue
AT THE MONETAE! COHFEEENCE.
The .American Delegation Is Representative
of ill the Tiews.
FEELIKG IN EUROPEAN C0UXTBIE8
rwnrrTEx roa THK DISrATCH.1
The financial telescopes of tho world will
be leveled at the Belgian capital next week,
and yet Brussels has witnessed more excit
ing episodes than the quiet gathering
which is to be termed the International
Monetary Conference. Great men from all
nations will be there, but it concerns the
United States most of all, for the initial
steps resulting in the International delibera
tions were taken by this Government. The
more shelved a vexed question just before
a Fresidental campaign, and It will now be
seen how international action
the problem.
will change
The American delegation consists of ex
Comptroller Henry W. Cannon; Senator
William B. Allison, of Iowa; Senator John
B. Jones, of Nevada; President E. Ben
jamin Andrews, of Brown University;
Congressman McCreary, of Kentucky, and
Edward O. Leech, Director of the Miut.
All Sorts of Views Represented.
"The delegates," said Mr. Cannon to ma
before he left for Europe, "certainly repre
sent all the views of Americans on the sub-
ject of coinage, and as it would be inad
visable to present all these sentiments we
have practically decided upon a compromise.
I believe that "there is not enough gold to
enable us to do without silver, but am
strongly opposed to free coinage. Senator
Allison takes a middle view on the ques
tion. Senator Jones is confessedly a radical
free coinage man. Dr. Andrews has written
au interesting volume on The Gold Dol
lar,' and his viows are almost radically
against freesilver. Directorlieechbelleves
that there is too much silver in the market.
and Congressman McCreary is inclined to
side with Senator Jones, althongh by no
means so radical on the subject We have
had no conference as yet, but each has bad
a talk with Secretary Foster, and our
duties have been clearly defined. We have
iirhnritv fcimnlv to discuss and to Tjronose.
but no power for final action. I doubt
if anv of the delegates from other
countries will have plenipotentiary
authority. The deliberations will in
all likelihood be conducted in the Enslish
language. The American delegates will
argue for bimetallism, and it is likely that
our 'most bitter opponents will be the
English delegates, who, I understand, be
lieve that we are making a grievous error in
purchasing 4,500,000 ounces of silver a
month. They think that to stop coining
this great mass of silver dollars monthly
would drive more bullion abroad, and in
that way favorably affect the silver market.
"No proposition looking to an indorse
ment of lree coinage of silver will probably
Son. J. JB. McCreary.
be submitted by any of the American repre
sentatives. Senator Jones was in Washing
ton at the time I conferred with the secre
taries and I feel sure he will agroe on the
'bimetallism' compromise measure which
we will urge for adoption by the con
ference." The Makeup of the Conference.
The delegates from other conferences so
far as announced are as follows:
Great Britain Sir William H. Houlds
wortb, M. P. for Northwest Manchester;
Mr. Bertrom Cnrne, partner in the bank of
Meurs. Glynn, Mills, Curne & Co.; Hon.
Sir Charles Frcemantle, K. C. B., Deputy
Governor of the Mint.
Government ot India General Kichard
Strachey. G. P. S., formerly member ot tho
Indian Council; Sir Guilford L. Moles
worth, K. C. I. E.
France Mr. Tirard, former Minister of
Finance and President of Council; Mr. L.
r"
.El 0. Leech, Director of tht Mint.
de iiron, high official in the Department J
ot Finance; Mr. de Favule, high omciai in
the Department ot Finance.
Switzerland Messrs. Cramer, Frey and
Lardv, Minister at Paris.
Italy Mr. Luigi Luzzatti, Mr. Karare
Semonelli and Mr. Domeulco Zeppa, all
members ot the late Parliament, Italy.
Sweden Hon, Fcnell, ex.Mlnister Fin
ance. '
Denmark Mr. 0. V. Tretgen.
Mr. Cannon and Mr. Leech 'are both of,
the opinion that one ot the strongest plans
i IS?
ft 'ty
Senator J. P. Jones.
jtMliiSySrfl
-jfsflMr -CiP !v"illfi!Rfll
lip
i
to be submitted to the conference will ha
that of Dr. A. Soefbeer.alfinanc'erof.nole.
It is much on the plan of the proposition
submitted by Maurice Lvy, the Danish
delegate, to the International Confereoc of
1881, that silver be substituted for gold in
payments not exceeding , and that silver
notes he issned to obviate the necessity, of
carrying about so much stiver. Dr. Soet
beer has modified the old proposition consid
erably, and believes it will he certain to
meet with favor before the conference.
Summarized his plan is as follows:
Dr. Soetbeer's Plan for Bimetallism. '
First Kecognjtion of ftome definite
weight of line gold as the universal founda
tion of the measure of value ot the mone
tary system.
Second Maintenance of the existing gold,
monetary systems .of the various ooun-
flsisssssBsftlssssV. HV
Senator W. S. Mliton.
tries; cessation by them of the further
coinage aud issue of gold coins under
5.8063 grams of fine gold (20-frano piece);
obligations of such countries to retire their
smaller gold coins within the next ten
years.
3. Uniform gold coinage charges of 2 per
1,000.
4. Issue of gold ceitificates for gold de
posited, by the principal mints or central
banks, for amounts of 500 grams oi fine gold
or multiples of that amount Agreement
on a unilorm mode of assaying.
5. Ketirement within the next ten years
of all bank notes hitherto issued in the
country and of otherpaper money of a value
under 5.8065 grams of fine gold,- and refusal
to issue any longer either bank -notes or
other paper money under said f alne in
gold. '
, 6. Ketirement of existing silver coins of
a higher nominal value than 10 per cent of
the value of the lowest future standard
gold coin, within the next 15 years, and
hereafter exclusive coinage oi the principal
coins in the value ratio of silver tq gold 20
to 1. Coinage of the same only on occount
of the Government Eaoh country to retain
its lreedom as to the coinage of small divis
ional coins.
7. Obligation of the Government of each
country to receive into its public treasuries
the principal silver coins bearing their own
stamp in payment of all sums.
8. Obligations of private individuals and
U. TK Cannon.
moneyed institutions to accept the prin
cipal silver coins of the country in payment
to au amount equal to three times tne' value
of the lowest standard gold coin.
9. Issues of silver certificates by the prin
cipal mints or central banks against the de
posit of the lull value of the lace thereof in
the principal silver coins in denominations
not lower than one-half of the value of the
lowest standard gold coin, and also in mul
tiples of such amount The immediate spe
cie redemption of the silver certificates in
principal silver coins on demand and at all
times at the places of issue.
10. No issue of credit notes payable in
silver only.
1L Liberty of each State to recede from
this monetary treaty after 13 months' no
tice. 12. Obligations of the several Govern
ments to inform each other at the close of
each calendar year of all laws, regulations
and proclamations issued respecting the
monetary system.
Secretary Foster Expects a Decision.
I had a talk with a New York financier
on England's real attitude to the confer
ence and he believed that the Interests of
India were in many respects like those of
America, and that this fact would alone suf
fice to- alter its obstinacy on the side of
monometallism.
Secretary Foster, however, is extremely
hopeful of decisive results, but others who
have scanned closely the European papers
appreciate the fact that there is a tremend
ous body of hostile feeling to overcome
among the leading countries of Europe
before any treaty can be agreed upon pro
viding for the larger use of silver. The
fluctuations ip feeling in Europe are not so
easy of measurement Whether the mani
fest opposition to blmetallium Is on the
point ot giving war is something the Amer
ican delegates will find out when they reach
Europe. On the whole it is safe to say
that Dr. Soetbeer's plan for the new ratio
oflto 20 may, after all.be the entering
wedge that will lead to an international
"bimetallism" agreement W. D.
Simple Remedy for Sprains.
A writer on the subject of simple reme
dies says there is no medicine known that
approaches hot water in value in injuries in
which the skin is not broken. It Is strange
that this remedy is not more in vogue on
the football aud baseball fields. Profes
sional players are often disabled for weeks
by effects which ought to be counteracted In
a few days. If an injury Is so located that
treatment can be conveniently. applied, as
on the band, the arm or tho leg, the affected
parts shonld be instantly pinnged into
water as hot as can be borne and kept there
for half an hour, and twice that length of
time il the accident is serious. When the
bath is discontinued the injured parts
should hare water dressings applied, and
these, also, should be kept bot until all the
tenderness has been drann out
WHAT IS A COLD?
The Answer Given In lecture by Dr. Hart-
man at the Surgical Hotel, Columbus
Ohio.
A rold is the starting uolnt of more tban
half of the fatal illnesses lrom November to
May. A cold is the first chapter in the his
tory of every case ot consumption. A cold
is the first stage of chronic catarrh, the most
loathsome and stubborn of diseases. A cold
is the legitimate parent of a itrge family of
diseases, such as bronchitis, pleurisy, pneu
monia, and quinsy. To neglect a cold is
almost suicide. To fail to provide against
this well-ulgh inevitable evil is daugerous
negligence. Pe-ru-na is a safecuardas a
preventive, a specific as a cure lor all Vases
of catarrh, acute and chronic, coughs, colds,
consumption, etc., etc. Every family should
be provided with a copy of The Family
physician No. 2, a complete guide to pre
vent and cure winter diseases. Sent free by
Tho Pe-ru-na Drug Manufacturing Com
pany, Columbus, Ohio.
THE CLUB WOMEN
w r r
Mrs. Jenny Teitit Liljijrcn.
The Duquesne Ceramic Club.
It was early in January that 20 ladies met
in the musie room of Prof. Simeon Bissell
on Sixth street to discuss the advisability ol
organizing a club for the advancement of tha
interests of local china painters. The even
ing was a disagreeable one, and the reDre
sentation not Tery encouraging. Deter-1
mined not to be balked by the weather,
however, a temporary organization was
effected. At the second meeting circum
stances were more felicitous, and a real livo
club with a very business-like name resulu
ed. Long they deliberated over that im-
portant feature the name. Duquesne in
stead of Pittsburg was adopted out of con
sideration for the aesthetic, while Ceramio
was sandwiched in by the practical to indi
cate its sphere of usefulness. Mrs. Jennie
P. Liljigren was elected President, Mrs.
Charles Aull, Secretary, aud Mrs. Simeoa
Bissell, Treasurer.
Since then meetings have been held at
stated intervals, at wbieh there has been an
interchange of ideas in regard to art work
that the members have found very helpful.
The original 20 active and 10 honorary
members of the club have been iaTgely added
to and the organization is well on the high
road of prosperity, to say nothing of fame
and fortune. Meetings are most frequently
held in Prof. Bissell's studio, thanks to..hi3
kindness.
One aim of the organization is to make a
creditable exhibit of work at the World's
Fair. In the spring an exhibition was
given in the parlors ol the Academy of
Science and Art. A second exhibition will
be given in the near future and, it Is said,
it will far eclipse their first effort
The president of the dob is not only an
able executive afficer, but an artist of rare
ability. She is a native of Illinois, al
though her childhood was passed near Al
bany, N. Y. Her family was of good old
Puritan stock. A fine education was ac
quired at the Delaware Literary Institute
and Cazenovia Seminary, both" located in
central New York. Mrs. Liljigren spent
several years in the study of art in studios
In New "York city, and later under Mrs.
Tracelton, of Milwaukee, the well-known
china painter. She was married in 1882,
and has since resided in the East. End.
Expenses of a Club 'Woman.
As her best friend came into the parlor
the club woman laid aside the sheet of
paper on which she bad been figuring in
dustriously. Drawing an easy chair toward
the fire for the visitor, she said:
I've been thmkins seriously this after
noon. I never before knew what a lot I
spend for these clubs. Mrs. Merriwell asked
me yesterday to join hers. I wanted to sea
lr I could afford it I belong to only two
now and they cost Just awtnllv. Now yon
won't tell anybody, will youT This row of
figures is for my flrst club. One dollaryearly
dues; that sounds cheap, doesn't lit We
meet every other week, so car fare is $1 80.
I laid out $10 for books: no, that isn't nearly
to much as some of the ladies spent. I'm on
one of the committees and I paid I think
$2 2" more car are, postage stamps, station
ary and one thins or other. Then we bad a
public meecting where I read a paper. I u ot
a new gown, of course: It cost (to.
There was the annual excursion where I
parted with $15 more. We wero each as
sessed 31 25 at different tlmei durlnjc tho
year. The cost tor tha entire year was
4S 70. My second clubN dues were JL I
spent only $1 75 or books; I wanted to ocon
mlze. I paid $10 for gloves, flowers, lace and
fixings to wear with my old blue dress to
the annual club banquet. Car fare was $1 0
more. W e had an tertainment for the bene
fit of the club and I was out of pocket H on
that. As delegate for the club to a meeting
in another city I spent $25 more nnuVfor peri
odicals of one kind or another lii regard to
clubs and women $10. I entertained the
members of the club at my home once. Of
course I did not need to, but all the other
ladles entertain. That cost $20. My second
club' expense account amounted to $79 33.
Together they have cost $128 05. or aoout
$2 50 a week. I'm sure I haven't remem
bered all either.
What They Did at the Conference.
Four-fifths of the federated women's
clubs of Pennsylvania were present at the
convention oi State clubs held November 2
and 3 in the new Century Club building,
Philadelphia. Mt-s Matilda Hlndman. of
Alleaheny, who represented the Travelers'
Club, wits the ouly delegate from this sec
tion. Mrs. Charlotte Emerson Drown, Pres
ident of the National Federation of
Women's Clubs, was present and made an
interetlng address on tha advantages of
federation. Alter that the ladles discussed
the deslraDtlliy of a State federation. Ax
none of the delegates had been Instructed
what to do in the matter, it was referred
back to the clubs, notion to be taken at the
biennial, council to hn held at riiihidelphla
in :8M. The question of how delegates to
that council should be entertained was
judiciously referred to a cominittco of tho
New Ccnturv Cbjb. Lucich wai served dele
gates and officers of the New Century Club.
The afternoon session was devoted to the
discussion of that much mooted question:
"It It Desirable for Women to Encase in
Aotlve Business Pursuits?'' Miss llmdman
was the first lady called upon to speak. Be
fore she finished she had convinced tho
Eastern ladles th.it Pittsburg women really
find time for Intellectual improvement.
KftKtern women seem firmly to believe that
In Pittsburg the men spend tneir time in the
manulaetnre of smoke, while the women
theirs- with, mop and broom, heroically bat
tling t" annihilate It.
The Wayne Club's reception closed tha
conierenoe.
Club Notes.
Mns. Mat Wbiobt Sew all Is said to be tha
youngest member of Porosis,
Mas. IIssbt Darlisotoit, of the Women's
Exchange management, spends this week In. '
New York.
Tnx afternoon musicale has come to tha
front again. Its flrst meetins was held at
Mrs. C. L- Magee's borne Tuesday.
Tnx Women's Press Club is about to in
augurate a series of social meetings which
shall be open to members and a tew invited
guests. Luch will be served and a pleasant
time U expeoted generally.
Tnz Needlework Guild, of which Mrs.
James B. Scott U head, will have its- dona
tion day November 17, that 1. Its members
will turn over to the chairman all garments
completed lor it by them during the year.
Una. Maboabet Pezxz, of Sandusky, O.,
who, it will be remembered, was one of the
delegates tent by the Cleveland Women's
Press Club to the International Convention
of Press Clnbs, held in Pittsburg two"year
ago, has nst published a novel, "Born of
Flame." It Is is-ued under the nora de plume
"Pique," and is favorably spokea of by the
critics.
Tne fact that society women In unpreeo
dently largo nnmbers arepreparinc jo spend
Thanksgiving in New York will have an un
fortunate effect in necessitating the post,
ponement of the usual Women's Exchange
lanoy work sale until December. There will
be, however, the annual dtaplny of tooth
some dainties sacred to the day of thanks
and oatlng.
Conduct Unworthy at Nobleman.
Baron SImolIn Bathory, a descendant of
he Licbenbrg kings and princes of Po
land, went into a restaurant at Eiga, lately,
and threw glasses at people who passed by
the place, and afterward sstauletu an edi
tor who criticised his conduct the same as
he would that of any other rowdy. The
Chamber of Nobility of Kurland has tlaca
met and declared him ucnrprtby pt hi
title.
WMtattf
i i
fi
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